Back at Ziz's battle, the scene was just as grim. The two essence lords were covered in arrows, their bodies resembling porcupines. Despite their numerous injuries, they looked at Ziz with palpable fear for other reasons
"How... how did you obtain our origins? That's impossible!" the Essence Lord of Time stammered.
"And what's with your arrows? Why are they draining our power?!" the Essence Lord of Space asked, utterly confused.
Ziz smirked. "A magician never reveals her secrets. You don't need to know the details—just acknowledge your defeat. It doesn't matter if you admit it or not; you're too weak to fight me without your origins. While I can't destroy your origins, if you lose them for too long, you'll dissipate and be reformed with a new origin. For others, this might be manageable, but as essences of Origin, you'll lose your sentience. Am I right?" Ziz said in a sensual tone, playing with the two multicolored floating orbs before them.
The essence lords turned pale at her words. While their diminished origins were a part of it, the fear of losing their sentience was even more distressing. If their origins were lost for an extended period, they would reform but with no memory or continuity of their current selves.
Ziz couldn't help but laugh at their dismay. Indeed, whether mortal, god, or higher being, no one liked the idea of death.
"*Sigh*, I'd love to destroy your origins and watch you perish, but unfortunately, the origins of beings closest to Father are the hardest to annihilate," Ziz said with a rueful sigh.
Shaking her head, she added, "Oh well, I can still siphon all your energy and use it as cores for future equipment once this battle is over," she muttered as she turned her gaze to the fight between Leviathan and Zen.
"Alright, big bro, you're the last one left. Finish this quickly, and we'll soon be free of our restrictions," Behemoth said casually, observing the battle.
Leviathan and Zen separated, assessing each other with different expressions. Leviathan grinned with excitement, while Zen looked slightly exasperated, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. The only similarity between them now was their intense gaze.
"I'm going to get serious now!" Leviathan declared, his form changing. He grew taller, his pitch-black scales becoming more lustrous and sharp. His claws turned into demonic talons, his teeth sharpened into fangs, and his hair lengthened until it reached his knees. Another crimson horn sprouted from his forehead, giving him a pair of red horns.
"Yeah, yeah, get serious if you want. I'm still going to beat you!" Zen replied, pointing his spear at Leviathan. His tone was indifferent, but his gaze was vigilant. His aura intensified as he obviously increased his power.
"Hah, bring it on!" Leviathan said, raising his spear in challenge.
They rushed at each other with incredible speed. The clash was earth-shattering; their spears met with such force that the surrounding space shattered, exposing them to the void and distorting time. Ordinary beings would have been obliterated by the shockwaves, the void, or time itself, but Leviathan and Zen, though severely injured, withstood the destruction.
They remained unfazed by the chaos around them, focusing intently on their battle. Their speed increased, their power surged, and their focus remained unshakable.
Suddenly...
BOOM!
It wasn't an explosion but a force that sent them reeling backward at incredible speed, distorting the space around them.
As they stabilized, they looked toward the source of the force—a boy no older than thirteen, wearing an oversized platinum robe. He had long black hair, bright black eyes, long lashes, and enticing lips. His youthful appearance belied his true nature.
Zen, recognizing the boy, bowed deeply. "Greetings, Lord Genesis!"
The boy nodded at Zen, who promptly joined him. The other essence lords, though battered and injured, gathered around Genesis. The Essence Lords of Light and Darkness, although cut up and missing limbs, and the Essence Lords of Time and Space, with numerous wounds, were also beginning to recover. Their color returned, and their wounds healed rapidly.
The two multicolored orbs Ziz had been holding disappeared and appeared in front of the essence lords, accelerating their healing.
"Thank you, our Lord!" the essence lords said in unison, except for Zen.
Genesis didn't respond but kept his gaze fixed on Leviathan, Ziz, and Behemoth.
Leviathan, Ziz, and Behemoth bowed, not too deeply but with respect.
"Greetings, Father. Long time no see!" they said in unison, as if rehearsed.
Genesis raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? So you still remember that I'm your father? I thought you had forgotten."